Balarbhita – A village without electricity in Goalpara

August 23, 2019 4:03 pm

A Correspondent

Goalpara: Despite multiple nationwide schemes for rural electrification like Saubhagya, Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojona, Baladmari Balarbhita village under Matia revenue circle of East Goalpara in Lower Assam is yet to be electrified. The village witnessed electric poles and few cables here and there few years back which are still standing but no electric connection was given.

“Several electric poles were erected and wires to few posts tied four years back and my students were very elated at the hope of attending classes under electric fans during summer. However, till date our students are suffering,” said Abu Shama, the headmaster of Balarbhita LP School.

“I am surprised to see the tall claims by politicians that hundred per cent electrification has been attained when a village like Balarbhita, which is within 10 km of Goalpara town, has not received electricity. There are poles from Aynal Bazar to my school and I wrote several times to the department for the connection but did not get any response,” added the headmaster.

Though there is no television or other digital devices, most of the people have mobile phones and they depend either on solar light battery recharge or go to the neighbouring villages to charge their mobile phones.

“In such a situation, how can the dream of the Prime Minister’s Digital India come true?” said Aynal Hoque, a gaon panchayat member.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Baban Kumar Paul, assistant general manager (rural electrification) of Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited, Goalpara office, said, “The village must have been left out somehow due to the lapse of the earlier construction agency which has been terminated. But I assure to take up the issue and bring it under electric connection as soon as possible.”